was the alcohol or that Snod still had some lingering guilt, but he wanted this to be special.
He wanted to give himself to Frankie, the idea terrifying and exhilarating all at once. He knew he was
in love with Frankie, undoubtedly, and there was no one else in the world he could possibly share this
with. He lifted up his head, licking his lips nervously.
The maze of scars etched into his body began to twitch, each one a reminder that what he was doing,
what he wanted, was wrong. He did his best to ignore it, but Frankie clearly sensed something was
amiss.
“Hey,” Frankie asked quietly, his eyes searching Snod’s. “Where’d you go? What’s wrong?”
“I want you,” Snod whispered, gulping softly as he struggled to find the right words. “I want you to
be... in me.”
“Obe?” Frankie’s eyes widened ever so slightly, trying not to allow his shock to show through. “Are
you really ready for that?”
“Yes,” Snod replied stubbornly. “I want to know what it’s like... I want... I want to give myself to you,
all that I am.”
Frankie’s eyes were bright and glistening, his expression positively radiating with love. He pulled
Snod in for a warm kiss, agreeing, “Okay. We can stop any time, any time it’s uncomfortable or—”
“I’m not going to ask you to stop,” Snod insisted, smiling as he traced the tips of his fingers over
Frankie’s cheek. “I want to show you what you mean to me, what your forgiveness means to me. I
don’t know quite how to say it, but this... this I can do.”
Frankie’s lip twitched as if he was going to cry despite his happy grin, urging, “Go on and get on your
back. I promise I’ll make it so good for you. I’ll take care of you, Obe.”
Snod nodded, rolling over as instructed and scooting up until his head was resting comfortably in the
pillows. He didn’t know what to do with his hands, fumbling around until he finally let them drop at
his sides. There was a nervous fluttering in his stomach, and he asked quietly, “Will it hurt?”
“Maybe,” Frankie said honestly, “but I promise I’ll do everything I know to make sure it hurts as little
as possible. It’s not going to be like when you’re with me. I’m a vampire, we’re more resilient...
uhm...”
“What is it?” Snod asked anxiously.
“I have to get you ready for me.” Frankie slowly crawled up Snod’s body, careful and delicate,
adding, “If we were bonded... it would help.”
